Cover for a building wall with at least two plate-shaped components

ABSTRACT

A cover ( 1 ), and a building wall ( 2 ) with the cover ( 1 ), has at least two plate-shaped structural components ( 3   a,    3   b ) with top (front) and rear sides ( 4, 5 ) arranged at least largely in parallel to the building wall ( 2 ). The plate-shaped structural components ( 3   a,    3   b ) are fastened at spaced locations to the building wall ( 2 ) by one or more support element ( 8 ). Narrow side (end) surfaces ( 6 ) of the plate-shaped structural components ( 3   a,    3   b ) are arranged obliquely between the front and rear sides ( 4, 5 ) of the plate-shaped structural components ( 3   a,    3   b ). The two plate-shaped structural components ( 3   a,    3   b ) are arranged in relation to one another such that the oblique narrow side surfaces ( 6 ) of the plate-shaped structural components ( 3   a,    3   b ) are arranged plane-parallel and overlap each other in an overlapping area ( 9 ) in at least some sections.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a United States National Phase Application ofInternational Application PCT/EP2018/065403 filed Jun. 11, 2018, andclaims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of EuropeanApplication 17 000 991.4, filed Jun. 12, 2017, the entire contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention pertains to a cover or cladding for a buildingwall with at least two plate-shaped structural components. With theirtop (front) sides, which form a visible surface each, and with theirrear sides, the plate-shaped structural components are arranged largelyparallel to the building wall and are fastened to the building by meansof at least one support component at a spaced location from the buildingwall.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

A plurality of respective facing elements having differentconfigurations, which are usually fastened to the building wall at aspaced location by means of a substructure, are known for covering orfacing buildings, especially the outer walls thereof. A building facade,which forms, on the one hand, a closed visible surface and protects thewall located under it against weather and makes possible an additionalheat insulation at least in many cases, on the other hand, is embodiedin many cases by such a facing. Furthermore, such facing elements areused in some cases to produce special design elements on the outer sideof the building or to provide a special protective layer.

A facade panel made of ceramic material for facing a building wall isknown, for example, from DE 203 12 122 U1. The facade panel described isintended for rear-ventilated curtain facade structures and has headrebates and foot rebates, with which the panel holders mesh in order tofasten the panels to a substructure and with this to the building wall.

Further, a facade panel, which is suitable especially for facing areasof a facade located between window openings, is known from DD 295 144A5. To make it possible to prepare a uniform glass facade, the facadepanels described have a transparent glass support, which has a coatingon its rear side, so that the outer layer of the facade panels arematched in reflection and hue with that of the insulating glass panes ofthe windows.

Substructures, which are fastened to the building, on the one hand, andwith suitable fastening devices to the facade panels, on the other hand,are usually provided for fastening facade panels to a building wall thatis to be faced. Such a fastening system is described as an example in DE10 2012 001 131 A1.

It is problematic in the case of the prior-art systems for covering orfacing building walls, which are especially frequently intended forouter walls of buildings, that joints are usually present between theindividual plate-shaped structural components because these jointsinterfere with the aesthetic appearance of the building, on the onehand, and must be sealed, on the other hand, in order to reliablyprotect the wall located under the panels from weather, especially frompenetrating moisture.

SUMMARY

Based on the prior-art systems for covering or facing building walls aswell as on the above-described problems, the basic object of the presentinvention is to perfect a cover for a building wall such that reliablesealing and protection of the wall, which is associated with this,against environmental effects is ensured, on the one hand, and anoptically especially advantageous configuration of a building wall ismade possible, on the other hand.

The above object is accomplished with a cover for a building wallaccording to the invention. Further, a building wall according to theinvention accomplishes the above-described object.

The present invention pertains to a cover for a building wall with atleast two plate-shaped structural components. The plate-shapedstructural components are fastened here to the building by means of atleast one support element at such a spaced location from the buildingwall that the top (front) sides forming the respective visible surfacesand the rear sides of the plate-shaped structural components, which saidrear sides are located opposite these front sides, are arranged artleast largely parallel to the building wall. Provisions are madeaccording to the present invention for at least one of the plate-shapedstructural components to have natural stone and for a joint or anabutting edge between the two plate-shaped structural components, whosenarrow side surfaces overlap, to extend at least approximately in thehorizontal direction. A panel arranged in a higher position at thebuilding wall is in a higher position than the panel arranged under itin the overlapping area at the building wall, so that the front side ofthe panel arranged in a higher position in the overlapping area forms avisible surface.

The edges of the facade panels are thus configured according to thepresent invention in the overlapping area such that especially water isguided from the facade panel fastened in a higher location at thebuilding wall over the joint to the lower facade panel. In the area ofthe joint, the surface forming the visible surface is in a higherposition than the facade panel arranged in a higher position at thebuilding wall and the facade panel arranged under it or in a lowerposition at the building wall. The terms higher and lower or arrangedhigher and lower are defined here in reference to the arrangement of thefacade panels relative to the ground.

Based on the special configuration of the facade panels, it is possibleto prepare especially narrow joints, on the one hand, and it is ensured,on the other hand, that the penetration of moisture and dirt into thearea between the edges of the facade panels is made at least verydifficult. It is significant in this connection that at least one of thenarrow sides or the respective surface of a plate-shaped structuralcomponent is not arranged at right angles to the front side of the paneland to the rear side of the panel, i.e., no 90° angle is formed betweenthe oblique narrow side surface and the surfaces of the front side ofthe panel as well as the rear side of the panel.

Based on this configuration, at least one area is arranged at the narrowside of the plate-shaped structural components between the front sideand the rear side such that the oblique narrow side surface forms anacute angle with one of the two adjoining surfaces forming the frontside and the rear side, while it forms an obtuse angle with therespective other surface. It is, of course, conceivable not only toconfer an oblique configuration on one of the narrow side surfaces, butto also arrange at least one of the other narrow side surfaces of aplate-shaped structural component obliquely between the front side andthe rear side. If two narrow side surfaces of a plate-shaped structuralcomponent, which side surfaces do not adjoin one another, are arrangedobliquely between the respective front side of the panel and the rearside of the panel, it is further advantageously conceivable in this casethat these narrow side surfaces are located either in two parallelplanes or else in planes extending at right angles in relation to oneanother.

According to the present invention, at least one of the plate-shapedstructural components is manufactured from natural stone. An especiallyattractive configuration of the facade is possible if plate-shapedstructural components are manufactured from natural stone, especiallygranite, marble or limestone. In addition, it is conceivable that atleast one of the plate-shaped structural components has ceramic ormetal, for example, aluminum, or else a composite, especially acomposite that contains fiber cement, glass fibers, wood fibers, woodflour, rock wool, a plastic polymer and/or polycarbonate.

According to another configuration of the present invention, at leastone coating is applied to at least one of the plate-shaped structuralcomponents. Such a coating may be optionally a suitable surface sealingcompound, which is prepared, for example, with a varnish, and/or afunctional coating, which possesses, for example, especially reflectionproperties, and/or dirt-repellent properties.

The present invention also pertains otherwise to a building wall, whichhas a cover configured according to the present invention with at leasttwo plate-shaped structural components. The at least two plate-shapedstructural components, especially facade panels, are arranged with theirmain extension direction, i.e., with their outer and rear sides or thecorresponding surfaces, at least approximately parallel to and at spacedlocations from the building wall and are fastened to the building,preferably to the building wall, by means of at least one supportelement. The plate-shaped structural components are preferably fastenedsuch that an air gap, which makes possible a rear ventilation of theplate-shaped structural components and hence a ventilation of thecovered or faced building wall, is formed between the rear side of theplate-shaped structural components and the building wall. It is, ofcourse, likewise conceivable to provide a heat insulation between theplate-shaped structural components and the building wall. According to aspecial variant, the building wall according to the present invention ischaracterized in that an insulating material, which contains Styropor,cellulose, polyurethane and/or rock wool, is provided in at least somesections between the building wall and at least one of the at least twoplate-shaped structural components, which cover the building wall. It islikewise conceivable, in principle, to provide, in at least somesections, an insulation plaster between the plate-shaped structuralcomponents and the building wall, which insulation plaster is preferablyat least a part of the support element at the same time.

Substructures that are fastened to the plate-shaped structuralcomponents, on the one hand, and to the building wall, on the otherhand, are preferably considered for use as support element. It isconceivable, in principle, in this connection that such substructuresare fastened to the building wall and/or to the plate-shaped structuralcomponents by suitable anchors, screw-wall plug combinations or bybonding. As an alternative to a substructure, it is likewiseconceivable, in principle, that the support element has at least oneadhesive or mortar and establishes an adhesive connection between thebuilding wall and the plate-shaped structural component. Theplate-shaped structural components are arranged at a spaced locationfrom the building wall in this case as well.

Based on the oblique and overlapping arrangement of the narrow sidesurfaces, the individual plate-shaped structural components, which coveror face the structural component, can be mounted especially close to oneanother. According to a special variant of the present invention, ajoint or an abutting edge between the two plate-shaped structuralcomponents, whose narrow side surfaces overlap, extends at leastapproximately in the horizontal direction. It is, of course, conceivablein addition or as an alternative that at least one joint or an abuttingedge extends between the two plate-shaped structural components, whosenarrow side surfaces overlap, at least approximately in the verticaldirection.

It is especially advantageous if the overlapping area between the twoplate-shaped structural components is arranged such that the panelarranged in a higher position at the building wall is in a higherlocation than the panel arranged under it in the overlapping area at thebuilding wall, so that the front side of the panel arranged in thehigher position in the overlapping area forms the visible surface andliquid running off from the top, especially water, is guided from theupper panel onto the lower panel, without penetrating into the jointbetween the panels. The advantage of the present invention is achievednow to the full extent, because joints between the individualplate-shaped structural components are avoided at least largely, on theone hand, and an especially suitable drip edge is formed by theoverlapping arrangement of the oblique narrow side surface, on the otherhand. Liquid running along the front sides of the plate-shapedstructural components is thus reliably guided from one panel to the nextwithout this liquid penetrating into the joints. The penetration of dirtis, of course, also prevented to a great extent and the cleaning of thesurface of a building is facilitated due to the fact that the width ofthe joints is minimized, because an at least nearly closed surface isprovided when the present invention is used.

The present invention will be explained in more detail below withoutlimiting the general inventive idea with reference to the exemplaryembodiments on the basis of the figures. The various features of noveltywhich characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity inthe claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For abetter understanding of the invention, its operating advantages andspecific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferredembodiments of the invention are illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of two plate-shaped structural componentsconfigured according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a building wall with a cover attachedthereto with plate-shaped structural components;

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the visible surface of a building facade,which has plate-shaped structural components configured according to thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows in a sectional view twoplate-shaped structural components 3 a, 3 b, which are configuredaccording to the present invention and are therefore suitable in apreferred manner for use as a cover 1 or facing of a building wall 2.The viewing direction “A” is directed towards the outer side or top(front) side of the cover 1. An overlapping area 9, in which obliquelyarranged, narrow side surfaces 6 of the panels 3 a, 3 b are locatedopposite each other, is essential in the configuration of the two panels3 a, 3 b, which have each a comparatively large-area top (front) side 4acting as a visible surface and a rear side 5 located opposite to thisfront side 4. Such a configuration and arrangement of the narrow side(end) surfaces 6 of the plate-shaped structural components 3 a, 3 bensures that a joint 7 extending in FIG. 1 at right angles to the imageplane can be minimized, so that the area between and behind theplate-shaped structural components 3 a, 3 b is reliably protectedagainst the penetration of moisture, against dirt and/or otherenvironmental effects.

The plate-shaped structural components 3 a, 3 b shown in FIG. 1,especially their oblique narrow side surfaces 6, are configured andarranged such that the upper panel 3 a covers in the overlapping area 9the lower panel 3 b, so that liquid, which runs downwards from the topalong the front side 4 of the upper panel 3 a, is guided reliably ontothe front side 4 of the lower panel 3 b. An especially suitable dripedge, which ensures that liquid running off along the front side 4 ofthe upper panel 3 a will not enter the joint 7 or the gap between thetwo panels 3 a, 3 b, is thus provided due to the wedge-shapedconfiguration of the upper panel 3 a in the overlapping area 9. Inaddition to the advantage that the area located on the rear side 5 ofthe panels 3 a, 3 b is reliably protected against environmental effects,an aesthetically especially attractive visible surface is provided inthis manner, which can, moreover, be cleaned in a comparatively simplemanner and thoroughly because of the especially small joints 7 orabutting edges between the panels 3 a, 3 b.

FIG. 2 shows in a sectional view a detail of a building outer wall 2, onwhich plate-shaped structural components 3 a, 3 b are fastened by meansof a substructure acting as a support element 8. The viewing directiontowards the outer or front side of the cover 1 is again marked by “A”.According to the embodiments shown in FIG. 2, a rear-ventilated facadeis provided by the spaced location of the plate-shaped structuralcomponents 3 a, 3 b from the building wall 2 and from the air gap thusformed.

The narrow side surfaces 6 extending at right angles to the image planealso have an oblique configuration and are arranged such that theyoverlap one another in the technical configuration according to FIG. 2as well. The narrow side surfaces 6 of a panel 3 a, 3 b extend obliquelybetween the adjoining front side 4, which forms a visible surface, andthe rear side 5 located opposite this. Based on this arrangement of theoblique narrow side surfaces 6, the narrow side surface 6 of the upperpanel 3 a forms an acute angle α with the front side 4 or thecorresponding surface, while an obtuse angle β is formed between thenarrow side surface 6 and the rear side 5 of the panel 3 a, which saidrear side faces the building wall 2. This is precisely reversed in thecase of the adjacent lower panel 3 b, so that the oblique surfaces 6thus formed are located opposite each other and define a constant gapfrom two sides.

As it was already explained in connection with the description of FIG.1, FIG. 2 also shows that based on the configuration and arrangementaccording to the present invention of the narrow side surfaces 6 of twoplate-shaped structural components 3 a, 3 b, which side surfaces arelocated opposite each other, a comparatively small joint 7 is formedbetween the panels 3 a, 3 b and the panels 3 a, 3 b may even be arrangedwith a butt joint in at least some areas if desired and especially if norear-ventilated facade shall be provided. At any rate, the shownembodiment and arrangement of the oblique narrow surfaces 6 of thepanels 3 a, 3 ensures that the joints 7 between the panels 3 a, 3 band/or the areas arranged behind the panels 3 a, 3 b are reliablyprotected from environmental effects, such as precipitation and dirt.Further, a uniform surface is created in this manner, which makes do atleast almost without joints 7 interfering with the aesthetic appearanceand makes possible a comparatively simple cleaning of the visiblesurface.

Finally, FIG. 3 shows the front view of a building facade, which has acover 1 or facing of the building outer wall 2 or building wall, whichcover or facing is configured according to the present invention. It canbe clearly seen that the individual rectangular facade panels 3 a, 3 bare mounted with the butt joint at least approximately, so that thejoints are at least very small. This is achieved, in turn, due to thefact that the individual facade panels 3 a, 3 b have, on their narrowsides 6, surfaces extending obliquely between the top and rear sides 4,5 on their narrow sides 6, which are arranged parallel opposite eachother in an overlapping area 9.

As can be seen in FIG. 3, all four narrow side surfaces 6, i.e., boththe long narrow side surfaces and the short narrow side surfaces, havean oblique configuration, and side surfaces 6 located on opposite sidesof the panels 3 a, 3 b are arranged obliquely in such a manner thatthese surfaces are located in parallel planes. A panel 3 a, 3 b, whichis a part of a wall facing 1 according to the present invention, islocated in this manner in the respective overlapping areas 9 along thecircumference of the panel 3 a, 3 b partially above and partially underthe adjacent panels 3 a, 3 b. It is, however, especially significant inthis connection that the upper panel of the two adjacent panels 3 a, 3 bis located higher in their overlapping area 9 than the lower panel, sothat especially water running off from the top will reliably reach thefront side 4 of the lower panel 3 b via the overlapping area 9 from thefront side 4 of the upper panel 3 a, without penetrating into the joint7 extending in the horizontal direction between the two panels 3 a, 3 b.

The great advantage of the present invention can consequently be seen inthe fact that moisture reaching the top surface or visible surface ofthe plate-shaped structural components, which cover or face a buildingwall in at least some areas, can run off without problems. It isreliably avoided, above all, that liquid dripping off from the loweredge of an upper panel would penetrate into the joint and/or into anarea located behind the panels. A building wall, especially a buildingouter wall, can thus be effectively protected against weather and dirt.At the same time, the configuration and arrangement according to thepresent invention of the plate-shaped structural components makes itpossible to obtain an at least almost closed upper or visible surface,which is meaningful based on aesthetic aspects. Moreover, an at leastalmost closed surface without joints or with only very narrow jointsoffers the advantage that this closed surface can be cleaned in anespecially simple manner and effectively.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed in detail to illustrate the application of the principles ofthe invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

1. A cover for a building wall, the cover comprising: at least twoplate-shaped structural components, each of the structural componentscomprising: a front side and a rear side configured parallel to thefront side, the front side and the rear side being each configured to bearranged at least largely parallel to the building wall and fastened tothe building at a spaced location from the building wall by means of atleast one support element; upper and lower oblique narrow side surfacesarranged obliquely between the front side and the rear side of theplate-shaped structural components, wherein the two plate-shapedstructural components are arranged in relation to one another such thatthe oblique narrow side surfaces of the plate-shaped structuralcomponents are arranged plane-parallel in relation to one another andoverlap each other at least in some areas in an overlapping area,wherein: at least one of the plate-shaped structural componentscomprises natural stone, the arrangement in relation to one another thetwo plate-shaped structural components defines a joint or an abuttingedge between the two plate-shaped structural components with the obliquenarrow side surfaces overlaping each other, and the joint extends atleast approximately in a horizontal direction, and one of the at leasttwo plate-shaped structural components is in a higher position than theanother one of the at least two plate-shaped structural components toprovide a higher panel and a panel arranged under the higher panel atthe building wall in the overlapping area, the front side of the higherpanel forms a visible surface in the overlapping area.
 2. A cover inaccordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the plate-shapedstructural components comprises ceramic.
 3. A cover in accordance withclaim 1, wherein at least one of the plate-shaped structural componentscomprises a metal.
 4. A cover in accordance with claim 1, wherein atleast one of the plate-shaped structural components is manufactured atleast partially of a composite.
 5. A cover in accordance with claim 1,wherein at least one coating is applied to at least one of theplate-shaped structural components.
 6. A building wall and covercombination comprising: a building wall; a support element arrangementcomprising at least one support element, the support element arrangementbeing connected to the building wall; and a cover fastened to the thesupport element arrangement, the cover comprising: at least twoplate-shaped structural components, each of the structural componentscomprising: a front side and a rear side configured parallel to thefront side, the front side and the rear side being each configured to bearranged at least largely parallel to the building wall and fastened tothe building at a spaced location from the building wall by means of atleast one support element; upper and lower oblique narrow side surfacesarranged obliquely between the front side and the rear side of theplate-shaped structural components, wherein the two plate-shapedstructural components are arranged in relation to one another such thatthe oblique narrow side surfaces of the plate-shaped structuralcomponents are arranged plane-parallel in relation to one another andoverlap each other at least in some areas in an overlapping area,wherein: at least one of the plate-shaped structural components hascomprises natural stone, the arrangement in relation to one another thetwo plate-shaped structural components defines a joint or an abuttingedge between the two plate-shaped structural components, with theoblique narrow side surfaces overlaying each other, and the jointextends at least approximately in a horizontal direction, and one of theat least two plate-shaped structural components is in a higher positionthan the another one of the at least two plate-shaped structuralcomponents to provide a higher panel and a panel arranged under thehigher panel at the building wall in the overlapping area, the frontside of the higher panel forms a visible surface in the overlappingarea.
 7. A building wall and cover combination in accordance with claim6, wherein the building wall is configured as a building outer wall. 8.A building wall and cover combination in accordance with claim 6,wherein the joint, arranged between the two beveled narrow side surfacesof the plate-shaped structural components at least approximatelyhorizontally.
 9. A building wall and cover combination in accordancewith claim 6, wherein air is arranged in at least some sections betweenthe building wall and at least one of the plate-shaped elements.
 10. Abuilding wall and cover combination in accordance with claim 1, furthercomprising an insulating material, which contains Styropor, cellulose,polyurethane and/or rock wool, is arranged at least in some sectionsbetween the building wall and at least one of the plate-shaped elements.11. A building wall and cover combination in accordance with claim 6,wherein at least one of the plate-shaped structural components comprisesceramic.
 12. A building wall and cover combination in accordance withclaim 6, wherein at least one of the plate-shaped structural componentscomprises a metal.
 13. A building wall and cover combination inaccordance with claim 6, wherein at least one of the plate-shapedstructural components is manufactured at least partially of a composite.14. A building wall and cover combination in accordance with claim 13,wherein the composite comprises fiber cement, glass fibers, wood fibers,wood flour, rock wool, a plastic polymer and/or polycarbonate.
 15. Abuilding wall and cover combination in accordance with claim 6, whereinat least one coating is applied to at least one of the plate-shapedstructural components.
 16. A cover in accordance with claim 4, whereinthe composite comprises fiber cement, glass fibers, wood fibers, woodflour, rock wool, a plastic polymer and/or polycarbonate.